Functional Brain-Based Training

What is Functional Neurology and How does it apply to You?

FUNCTIONAL WHAT?

Let me break it down for you… The way you “perform” on a daily basis is a direct output of the various inputs that your brain is receiving, interpreting, and developing patterns from. It has done this since you were born and continues to do this PERFECTLY 24/7 - most of the time without your permission and/or knowledge.

READ THAT AGAIN UNTIL YOU ARE 100% YOU UNDERSTAND THAT FIRST SENTENCE…

…PRETTY COOL, RIGHT?

IF (BIG IF) we receive consistently accurate and precise input and our brain is able to translate this information effectively, we move with ease, without pain, and rather efficiently. This translates to you looking and feeling like a badass most of the time without needing to think about it (most of us in our teens and early 20’s knows what this feels like).

If we do not receive inputs with clarity and if various systems are not speaking the same language (i.e. coming to an agreement over what is happening within our vicinity), over time (very slowly and subtly at first), we become weaker, slower, and inefficient. Most seasoned individuals have experienced this at some point and most actually think this is a “normal”effect of getting older.

It may be common,

BUT THIS IS NOT NORMAL!!”

And I will explain why, in a moment...

Perhaps, you may have asked yourself:

“WHAT KIND OF INPUTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?”

In this simple context, I am talking about your VISUAL SYSTEM and what information is being interpreted via the eyes (they each have 6 muscles in case you were not aware),

your sense of balance which is interpreted by your VESTIBULAR SYSTEM (lives inside your ears and is one of the most under appreciated and misunderstood senses in the human body),

and the PROPRIOCEPTIVE SYSTEM which is your brain-body’s map of where it is in space at all times (how and why you can magically get to the bathroom in the middle of the night without turning any lights on).

There are many other inputs, but we will stick to the biggest bang for your buck for the time being. Plus, let’s be real: In today’s day and age, everything’s got to be an elevator speech or I’ll lose you to your next snapchat or text message.

I mentioned before that being weak, slow, and in-efficient is NOT NORMAL, but what am I talking about and how do YOU know that you fall into that category?

DO YOU FEEL PAIN/TENSION IN YOUR BODY ON A REGULAR BASIS? DOES THAT PAIN SHIFT AND MOVE?

ARE THERE TASKS THAT YOU WANT TO PERFORM BUT ARE UNABLE TO (ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE ONCE ABLE)?

HAVE YOU FELT A DECREASE IN ENERGY/VITALITY OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFETIME?

If your answer is YES, hold that thought. I’ll come back to it in a moment, I promise.

If your answer is NO, you must be superhuman and have no need for any assistance in becoming an even more amazing person. BUT, I forewarn you, “getting old” is not a myth and you may want to continue reading in case you meet your arch nemesis: “Old Age.”

I hope you know I’m being silly. What I am trying to say is:

BEING WEAK, SLOW, CARRYING EXCESS WEIGHT, NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, AND FEELING PAIN/TENSION ON A REGULAR BASIS IS ALL THE SAME THING. IT IS THE IN-ABILITY TO ACCESS, PROCESS, AND MANAGE YOUR ENERGY.

HERE’S WHY:

I forget who coined the “move it or lose it principle” but at the age of Two, we will have the greatest number of neuronal connections we will EVER have in our life. From that point forward, depending on how you live your life, your brain will continue to be good and potentially get better at what you practice, and what you don’t, it can and will eventually "forget”.

So, let me ask you: When is the last time you trained your eyes? Or your vestibular system? Or your proprioceptive system?

And these major governing systems that basically determine how you survive on this planet (that you are not training by the way) are just suppose to be perfect without your attention, effort, and support?

It’s no wonder most of us are walking around clumsy, overweight, in pain, and honestly, with little idea of what basic self-care really means.

But here’s the point: if you don’t train these systems, they don’t get better. If they don’t get better, the likelihood of them getting worse over 30, 40, 70 years is mathematically pretty high. And the longer this goes on, the more tension and pain you feel, because pain (in the world of neurology) is your brain’s way of saying:

HELLO! PAY ATTENTION TO ME! DO SOMETHING (ANYTHING!) OTHER THAN WHAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY DOING!

Like this guy…

Now, most of us would feel extreme amounts of psychological and emotional pain if we were to get even close to doing this, because it’d be our brain’s way of making sure we do not do something stupid and result in our body splattered on the ground like a pancake, but this here rascal: This is not this kid’s first rodeo. He’s practiced this before.

And this is where the concept of experiencing pain as an action signal comes in that most people are not aware of:

TO EXPERIENCE PAIN IS A GIFT. IT IS YOUR BRAIN PLEADING TO YOU: please -TAKE ACTION!

And if you’re currently experiencing any form of pain or tension, or aging a bit more ungracefully than you would have wished for, please do yourself a favor and schedule a complimentary consult. Many of the tools I have are ridiculously simple and the way we will test and re-assess EVERY SINGLE THING, you will quickly come to know what exactly to keep in your toolbox of being the best version of yourself and what you can (finally!) leave for good.